Last week, I was reminded that it just takes one person to make a lot of smiles, to bring hope, to make a difference. But better than that, when great people are together, great things happen.

This is just a note of appreciation to Paul Fortier, member of the Thames Valley Metal Detecting Club, Const. William Wang from the Grand Bend OPP detachment, and to all the ones who remember the value of giving.

Paul decided to give metal detecting a try three years ago. Paul didn’t accept anything but my gratitude in return; when I thanked him for his time and help, he said, “No problem, I’m glad we found it, it was fun!”

It might have been just fun for Paul, but his help was a blessing for me. My band fell in the sand in Grand Bend and after looking for it for more than two hours, until it was dark, I drove back to London disappointed and hopeless.

I reported to the police station, and was told somebody would contact me to request more details. Later that night I got a call from Const. Wang requesting more information about the ring; before he hung up he said, “A truck passes cleaning the sand early in the morning, if you are planning on coming to look for it, if you get lucky, there might be someone with a metal detector, who occasionally comes after the weekends.”

He also warned it was like “looking for a needle in a haystack.”

The next morning, my family and I drove back to Grand Bend at 5 a.m., and yes, we got lucky. The cleaning truck had not passed yet, and there was Paul. He agreed to help with my search. While Paul was scanning the sand, a comforting voice asked, “Are any of you Gabriela?” It was Const. Wang, who had just finished his shift and went the extra mile walking to the beach to see how he could help.

He told us how he found a lost wedding ring in the past. After about 20 minutes, Paul came toward me with the most gentle expression, afraid of disappointing me and asked, “Is this your ring?” It was! More mine than ever!

I have no words to thank these two men. We need more people like you two. Let us all remember the gift of giving, let us all remember that it just takes one person to make a difference.

Gabriela Kongkham-Fernandez

London

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Free concerts fabulous idea

I would like to thank whoever was responsible for hosting the free concert at the Guy Lombardo Pavilion on Aug. 10. It was a lovely way to spend a summer afternoon, sitting in our own lawn chairs, sipping on coffee, relaxing under the shade of the trees and listening to the music. There is a concert being offered on Aug. 24 as well. What a fabulous idea.

Linda Wilkie

London

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Broadway singers seek voices

The Broadway Singers are starting our 15th season in September and are looking for basses, tenors, high sopranos who would like to sing with us. Interested? Call Char at 519-668-8246 for audition details (www.broadwaysingers.net). Auditions will take place on Sept. 3.

Margaret Bildy

The Broadway Singers

Committee Member

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Bike-theft victim deserves better

I am writing this letter about my mother. Her name is Rosemary. She has lived in east London her entire life.

She is proud of herself and she should be. She is 70 years old, a loving mother, an outstanding grandmother and passionate about the freedom she gets when she rides her bike. She rides it all around London. She uses it to meet friends, to go to restaurants, to second-hand stores, to the bank, the mall and the library. She uses her bike to run errands for neighbors who are 30 years younger than she is.

She is an inspiration for many, not because she rides her bike, but because she chooses to ride her bike. She has a perfectly good car, it’s five years old and has around 30,000 kilometres. She rides her bike not out of need but out of enjoyment. It makes her feel like a kid.

So, why this letter? Last week, her bike was stolen in the middle of the day, locked up at a Northeast Library while she exchanged some books. Bikes are stolen every day, in every city. It’s a problem, not a big problem, but one that sits as an annoying nuisance for most of the victims of bike theft.

Most of us have had a bike stolen in our life, and for some reason we just accept it. For many of us, it’s just something that we need to deal with. Our mother has had to deal with it twice in the past two years.

This is not front-page news, but to my mother, it was a terrible thing. We can buy her a new bike, that’s not the issue. The issue is deeper than that. It’s that she deserves better.

Stealing a bike is easier than stealing an apple from the grocery store. To the individual who stole my mother’s bike, I can’t possibly imagine that you need it more than she does. If you do, I apologize. If you don’t, learn from your silly mistake.

You didn’t just steal a bike, you took something that meant a lot to a very good person.

Jeff Budden

Calgary, Alta.

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Wrestlers honour coach Bayley

In June of this year, Gerry Bayley was inducted into the Catholic Central High School Athletics Wall of Fame. In order to honour this achievement, all former CCH wrestlers and coaching colleagues from the era are invited to celebrate a fantastic coach, teacher and person.

Come out to congratulate Gerry, to reacquaint with old friends, and also to share some old wrestling stories (whether true or not) on Sept. 14 from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Morrissey House, 361 Dundas St.

If you plan on attending please e-mail Dave Mottram on or before Sept. 6th at mottramd@gmail.com

David Mottram

London

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Don’t miss Denfield barbecue

Denfield and Area Residents 37th Annual Beef Barbecue will be held on Sept. 1 at Denfield Community Park in Denfield from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for youth (six to 12 years) and free for children under five.

For tickets, please call 519-666-1864, 666-0217 or 519-666-3769. Advance sale are appreciated and tickets will be at the door if still available.

Grace Rollings

Denfield

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Decoration Day defrays expenses

Vining Cemetery, at 22157 Purple Hill Rd. is holding its annual Decoration Day on Sept 7. Donations will be gratefully accepted all day at the entrance gate to help defray upkeep expenses of the cemetery. A short service will take place at 1 p.m.

If you are unable to attend, but wish to send a donation, please make it payable to Vining Cemetery and mail to: Kim Corriveau, 4600 Line 11, RR #, St.Marys, N4X 1C7

Lloyd Monteith, Director

Vining Cemetery, Granton

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Barking dogs should be reported

I woke around 6 a.m. on a recent morning and stepped out on my balcony to enjoy some cool, fresh air. At some distance away there was a dog barking, and it was still barking, persistently and non-stop, until after 7:30 a.m. For all I know it could have been barking all night.

Quite aside from the nuisance to neighbours, who are either oblivious to the noise or too afraid of the owner to complain, shouldn’t this kind of ill-treatment be considered animal abuse? The dog is quite obviously unhappy, frustrated, ignored, shut out and unloved.

Why do people keep dogs when they don’t like them enough to care for them properly? Do they own them for the sadistic pleasure of ill-treating an animal in this way? I have noticed in the past people rant and rave in the press when someone cruelly treats a dog or cat, but no one seems to notice or care about the persistent ill-treatment of some dogs by their owners in this way.

Leaving a dog to bark endlessly is cruel, uncivilized and, according to London’s noise by-law, illegal. If you care about the proper treatment of animals or are annoyed by the constant barking of a dog that is being abused in this way do, please contact the city’s by-law office and lodge a complaint. You shouldn’t have to tolerate this and neither should the dog.

Margaret Gagie

London

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Wheelchair destroyed by driver

On Aug. 7 at between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. I was involved in a hit and run on Dundas and Eastwood (the Argyle Mall entrance).

I had waited for the light to give me the right of way to cross toward McDonald’s. After I had gotten about halfway across, a black sport-utility vehicle ran into me. My three-month-old power wheelchair was destroyed.

After the driver hit me, she had the audacity to honk the horn, wave and drive away quickly. One witness tried to chase her down in his vehicle, but he was unable.

I suffered severe bruising and deep tissue damage to my left leg. The wheelchair probably won’t be covered from insurance. Because it was a hit and run, we have no insurance to submit it to.

I am asking for anyone that may have witnessed this to please come forward or if you were the driver please do the right thing. I do not know how I am going to get another power-chair or scooter because to replace this one is going to cost $11,000. I do have a loaner, but not sure how long I will be able to keep this one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated in the matter.

I also want to thank anyone that stopped that day to help me, it was greatly appreciated, I didn’t get your names, but I wanted to say thank you.